Press and daily Dakotaian. (Yankton, Dakota Territory [S.D.]) 1880-1889, 1887-12-17

\ 4&J
have seen at Kahn's, In short you will
find the public unanimous in their praise
of Kahn d Co.'S. establishment. Gall
before the assortment is broken.
l0l, Bird st. Corner Douglas Avenue.
Y%ANKToN's SCHOOLS.
The Rise and Progress OF Our Educa-
tional EARLY Experiences
Under Difficulties.
The first movement in the establish
ment of schools in this city was due to
an organization OF ladies who collected
by private subscription o fund of some
three hundred dollars and more to give
70 the children OF the town school ad-
vantages. The first: schools we're all
private enterprises. The frst school
building was a"grout' structure. aow
known as the Brown school house. It
seems that the walls of the "grout"
structure becoming unsafe. and fearing
the falling OF thu roof and crushing the
children, studding placed in the walls
was resor.ed to, holding the roof in
place, then the "groutn walls were
covered by weather. boarding. Thus
covered 1t is the building occupied for
school parposes Of to-day, though its
long and eyentful existence deserves re-
tirement, and a modern school building
in its place.
When the oommon school system was
established in the town it did not work
~lrictionless, for some favored taxation,
others opposed 1t. Some were ,ndifer-
emit as to the character Of the schools, as
to tho number Of months taught, or the
talent Of the teachers. In many cases
the public funds were in the hands Of
Irresponsible parties. AT any rate a heavy
debt was incurred and a depleted treas
ury.
The low grade Of the school System
resulted In the formation of a private
corporation for creating an academy.
The building occupied for this pur-
pose is o joined to she high school
building. The continued friction and
party spirit, tax or no tax, the narrow
and contracted economy evinced by
many in conducting school matters
eventually resulted in a carefully pre-
pared bill being drawn asking the legis-
lature to give to Yankton an indepen-
dent school system. The preparation of
this bill and pushing it through the
Legislative body is largely due to our
public spirited Citizen, Gov. Edmunds.
The bill was passed in January, 1876.
approved by the governor January, 9Th,
1875. The provisions of the bill gave
the schools into the hands Of a board of
education, the city council electing its
members, two from each Of the four dis
tricts, she boundaries OF which were
given. The first board OF education con-
sisted OF the following named persons:
f. NJ. ziebach, D.. T. Bramble, j. r.
SanboTn, :. J. Dewitt Bartlett gg,a:pp,
Newton Edmunds. Joseph Ward and E
P. Wilcox. When this board commenced
Operations they were obliged to assume
the debt OF the badly managed schools
which, by the creation Of this in
dependent school system. went ont OF
existence only the three thousand dollars
Of debt remained for the new board 20
meet. Bnt with all these embarrass-
ments against thems yet they pushed
forward to success. During the year,
the first school bniliing worthy Of its
name, monument to the superior advan-
tsges OF the new over the old, went ND
the Webster school building. The first
| president Of the board the records show
to be Bartlett Trip, and the first super
intendent Of the schools and secretary
Of the board was Mr.. VIM. nj. Bristol.
The first anniversary exercises came
of June Goth, Of the first year Of the
new system, established. On the pro-
gramme OF shose exercises we notice the
only Grafton delivered wss by Charles
M. Sheldon on "Tae Progress of Amer.
ica." Three essays as follows: "Ciouda
CrumbIe, Carrie M. Anderson; "Method
in Daily Life, Sarah E. Field; "Ovel
the Alps Lieth thy Italy" Helen E
Moody.
We also end in those early records ar
interesting and suggestive table showing
the nativity Of the first pupils Of the
school after the new system was adopted
The number born in the United Statel
is given as 24S. These we're born ir
nineteen STATED and two territories. Tn,
number born In foreign countries i.
given as "a from 7 foreign countries anc
7 are noted as birth place unknown. Or
the establishments Of the high school the
academy eeenas TO have fulfilled its mis-
sion in the newly established schooi th,
high school and prospective colleg,
wnich q realiz.d at o later day
FROM the day the first step was taker
towards better school privileges in thi.
city there has been yearly progress, On.
ward and upward eeems to have bee
che motto.
With this Excelsior" motto ever be
fore the board the superintendent, tn
teachers and the pupils Z school system
has been given to this city OF whicl
every progressive citizen may be iastl,
proud. These we'll managed school
ought to draw, and will d, Jaw to thi
r,&v ropv eorn;t,ac -. 5:~o 4-